Housing people we Need
Welcome to The Home Team!
The lack of affordable housing is one of the most pressing challenges facing Santa Barbara County. Across our communities, I hear the same concern again and again: people who work here cannot afford to live here. Our workforce is commuting long distances, families are being priced out, and too many young people are forced to leave the place they call home.
This strain is felt across every sector. Employers throughout the county—including our own County government—are struggling to recruit and retain a talented workforce because housing is simply out of reach. When workers can’t live in the communities they serve, it impacts not just our economy, but our overall quality of life.
There is reason for optimism. Communities across our region are making real progress toward affordable housing goals, demonstrating that meaningful change is possible when we stay focused and work together.
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The Home Team is about building on that momentum—bringing partners together, aligning efforts, and accelerating solutions so that Santa Barbara County remains a place where people can live, work, and belong. Join me in welcoming and working with The Home Team!
Joan Hartmann
Third District Santa Barbara County Supervisor and co-chair of the Elected Leaders Forum on Housing & Homelessness.